Customer Reviews

Between Darkness & Wonder

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

So the US finally gets Lamb's 4th album, about a year after it came out in the UK and without the 3 bonus tracks of the UK release. Oh well, better that than never :)

Having had quite some time to get to know the album, I've still not really grown fond of it. I find that Lamb are like that - on first listen each album might not seem so special, but the more you listen to it and get to know the songs the more special it becomes. However, I've found that since their stunning debut album each successive release has taken longer to appreciate and still not quite reached the same heights. It may be that in time I'll really grow to love Darkness & Wonder, but so far I just think it's OK.

The album is definitely Lamb's mellowest effort to date - part of what makes the band so interesting is the extreme contrast between the styles and interests of the two main members - Andy is into full on drum and bass experimentalism and Louise is into much mellower and more melancholy material. The mix and interaction of these two elements is what makes their best songs so interesting. On BD&W it seems that Andy has taken something of a back seat and the material is more of a showcase for Louise's style and interests. The beats still have a place but there's nothing as frantic or schizophrenic as the classic COTTON WOOL, for instance.

The songs are still well written, but the album is a little too... tranquil, for my tastes, overall. It works well as background music or music to fall asleep to, but when I put it on at work it usually slips so much into the background that I forget I'm listening to it.

Still a good album, and one that may even win them new fans, but I don't think it's of the same interest level as their first, second or third CDs.

Lamb could not have selected a better title for their fourth studio release `Between Darkness and Wonder'. The British duo clearly have found such a space within their own sound. Teetering between intense joy and excruciating sadness, Lamb seemingly have found a place more human then most electronic based acts are prepared to journey, which makes them not only unique in sound but precious as well. Since their 1997 self titled debut, Lamb has evolved into a skin so distinct that despite their indie level status (and extremely poor American press packaging) it is sure to be remembered long after they are gone. Singer Lou Rhodes' vocals are spine chilling, lush and smokey sweet (her work on `Till the clouds clear is jaw dropping stunning) and blip master Andy Barlow's programing is ground breaking and remains unmatched in uniqueness. Lamb fans will not be disappointed by this album. `Between Darkness and Wonder' is, however, much different then anything the band has ever previously released. In all other Lamb releases there is a sharp contrast in personal style between Barlow and Rhodes (which of course works to their advantage) but on `Between Darkness and Wonder' they seem to have finally infected each other with their own musical agenda's. The album contains a unity that we have never heard from Lamb before and let me be the first to say it is most definitely good. It seems through working on the same page Barlow and Rhodes have somehow inspired each other to push harder to things they have strayed away from in the past. Barlow's programing has more humanity then anything we have ever heard from him before and at times Rhodes' voice seems to be an electronic blip in itself.
`Between Darkness and Wonder' is defiantly a must own (one can only imagine how much fun they had putting this one together). Even if you read my review and think it is useless buy this cd, the songs; Stronger, Till the clouds clear, Open up and Sugar 5 will pay for it 100,000,000 times over.

P.S, if you already have the Remix of Gabriel by Nelle Hooper, don't bother buying the extended version. The MJCole remix sounds like something Oakenfold would do and the funkstrong version of Heaven isn't really Heaven, it's What sound and not very good.

Maybe it should be only three stars, not four. Undoubtedly, there are some gorgeous tunes on this album. "Angelica" and "Wonder" are superlative, for instance. However, whether this is progress for the duo, as has been suggested, is a trickier proposition. With their first two albums, conjuring a mood out of a variety of dark types of music, among them drum-and-bass, trip hop, and acid jazz, Lamb created a perfectly original sound: trademark vocals over very sparse core composed primarily of powerful and inventive beats, a prominent upright bass, and strident wind instruments. The band occupied its own musical space. Beginning with "What Sound," they gave up that space and stepped into a far more densely populated arena, where Moby, Everything But the Girl, and so many others compete to lay down ravishing pop hooks imbued with electronic magic. You might call this a process of beautification, which began with "What Sound": Lamb now floats tender melodies over lavish keyboards and acoustic guitars, and, as if to emphasize the rosy atmosphere, throws in some surprisingly optimistic - and trite - lyrics about us all being one and not having to worry about dying, and so forth. Inevitably, there are drawbacks to this new stance: once you abandon a certain harsh musical independence and begin to sound as if you were vying, with a kerjillion others, for a chart hit, you necessarily expose yourself to comparison. About half of this album compares favorably with everyone else in the field, the other half does not. I've always loved Lamb's instrumentals, and "Angelica" is possibly the most memorable tune on the CD. But the loveliness begins to peter out with "Sun" and gradually becomes too bland to register. Some of the last songs on the CD, to folky foursquare rhythm, sound like something you might hear done much better by Beth Orton. I've been listening to "Between Darkness..." repeatedly, with utter enjoyment, but cannot remember most of it. To say that I've not been deeply affected by it, as I was by "Lamb" and "Fear of Fours," would be an understatement. Too much lambness, not enough teeth.

This cd is the one of the indescribable. I guess all what's the most important was already said in the others' reviews, but still I think it's not nearly enough to express the true character of the album.

As the title suggests, Lamb's music perfectly puts you between the darkness and wonder. Through the sounds and lyrics, they manipulate your mind, so they can send you on the unforgettable journey; either will you joyfully soar in the ecstatic blue skies, or you'll dramatically fall down into the middle of dark forest of melancholy. Just get this piece of musical treasure and don't expect anything - close your eyes and let the music take you. When you eventually wake up, you'll decide yourself wether the dream was unpleasant, or a beautiful one.

Smooth melodies and sophisticated trip-hop are the mark of Lamb. Their fourth release "Between Darkness and Wonder" is well-named: it's a combination of the melancholy and the pretty, wrapped up in catchy and/or tranquil pop. It's music to get wistful to.

A haunting opener bursts into shimmery "Darkness" and the poppy "Stronger." Then the album takes a different twist, turning down into melodious trip-hop ("Sugar 5," the bouncy "Sun"), and a stretch of soft, sweet music (the instrumental "Angelica," rainy ballad "Till the Clouds Clear," the sweet violin-led "Learn"). After the thumpy, gritty "Open Up," the album closes with the soft, slow, violin-tinged ballad "Hearts and Flowers."

Despite the more upbeat numbers, the tone of "Between Darkness and Wonder" is mellow and pensive. It's also a bit sad, but in an optimistic way. "And I'm beyond recognition/Gone to some small space in silent stillness/Yet something beats anew," Lou Robinson tells us in her sweet, sometimes velvety vocals. With all those songs about rebirth, skies turning from grey to blue and demons (personal demons?), it straddles between being melancholy and joyful.

Despite the electronica/trip-hop nature of Lamb, the edges of "Between Darkness and Wonder" are classical. "Hearts and Flowers" and "Learn" have violins, "Wonder" has rippling harp, and "Angelica" has piano. It gives a more timeless quality to the smooth, panoramic electronic music. Speaking of which: Andy Barlow does a fantastic job molding the beats, blips and sweeps of sound into some of the best trip-hop out there.

"Between Darkness and Wonder" is a beautiful album by a talented band. Deeply atmospheric and melodic, Lamb's newest release could be easily considered one of the best releases of 2004.

Lamb's fifth album since their self-titled debut of 1996 also turned out to be the last, with both founding members Andy Barlow and Louise Robinson (Louise Rhodes as was, having gone on to marry Crispin Robinson) embarking on solo projects. Perhaps wisely quitting while they were still ahead, Lamb brought a level of sophistication, lyrically, musically and emotionally, almost unique in the world of drum and bass, although this is a music that cannot be wholly ascribed to any one category. In this record they have achieved a summation of their art, be it in the deceptively pastoral passages of Clouds Clear, or the attack on your loudspeakers that is Sugar 5. At times exploring the darkest corners of human relationships, while at others celebrating the joys of living, Lamb can only make one look forward to what they come up with individually in the future

This album is amazing ... almost flawless. With almost any album it is impossible to listen to the whole c.d. and like every song. This album is different - some songs are amazing some are really good, some just good and only one or two are fair. Not one bad song. It is not like their first two releases - there are a lot less drum & bass influences and experimentations. It's more toned and low key with a lot of slower and more soothing and beautiful moments. The vocals are sometimes more relaxed sometimes more powerful. The best tracks on the album have to be Sugar 5, Stronger, and Till The Clouds Clear. Sugar 5 uses some drum & bass and electronic influences. Possibly their best song ever. Stronger is very simple - has a good beat and great lyrics. Uses very simple piano and string arrangements to give it a gorgeous melody. Till the Clouds Clear starts off sounding like a really pretty Lisa Loeb song with the accoustic guitar and floaty vocals then breaks into this awesome electronic surge of samples and beats. Amazing track. The rest of the songs are really good except I've never been able to get into Sun which is just a little too happy-go-lucky or Hearts and Flowers - too slow. Not bad tracks but have never appealed to me. Otherwise next to Esthero's "Breath From Another" this album may be the best trip hop album ever produced.

When Massive Attack failed to keep up with their own quality standards (and yes I know that's sometimes hard to define) a point was proven once again: it's incredibly hard after 3 albums to keep fulfillinf the expectations of your own fans especially if you've accustomed them to top-notch stuff.

Not so for Lamb.
Lamb, prove with "Between Darkness..." that this is a group totally underrated and with potential that goes way beyond our imaginations so far, indeed, Lamb are a group that after 3 brilliant albums make a comeback that not only is a step into a different direction but simoultaneously a step forward.

While the signs were already there for those that were watching (or listening) with their previous (and also stunning) album "What sound", this, their new LP is one that comes through not as an electronica release (even though it is) but as a very organic-sounding one.

It seems that Lamb are able to convey more feeling with each new release as such is here the case. It also seems that their singer seems to be maturing in a spectacular way. Her voice stays with you long after the CD is over and it makes you come back constantly for more.

Some critics said that this close to a "progressive electronica" album but I'm not sure what that is supposed to mean. Perhaps they are trying to point out the absence of pompous deep beats or power basses. If you've heard Lamb's "Scratch bass" in their previous album you probably know what I mean, but, having siad that, i note once again that Lamb attempt here a "different" direction and the result is nothing less than spectacular.

Dark, deeply heartfelt, tremendously atmospheric and more melodic than we've heard them before, "Between Darkness & Wonder" is an album that yes might go unnoticed in the storm of garbage the music industry is raining us with, but for those that will discover it will be another Lamb gem to cherish.

Smooth melodies and sophisticated trip-hop are the mark of Lamb. Their fourth release "Between Darkness and Wonder" is well-named: it's a combination of the melancholy and the pretty, wrapped up in catchy and/or tranquil pop. It's music to get wistful to.

A haunting opener bursts into shimmery "Darkness" and the poppy "Stronger." Then the album takes a different twist, turning down into melodious trip-hop ("Sugar 5," the bouncy "Sun"), and a stretch of soft, sweet music (the instrumental "Angelica," rainy ballad "Till the Clouds Clear," the sweet violin-led "Learn"). After the thumpy, gritty "Open Up," the album closes with the soft, slow, violin-tinged ballad "Hearts and Flowers."

Despite the more upbeat numbers, the tone of "Between Darkness and Wonder" is mellow and pensive. It's also a bit sad, but in an optimistic way. "And I'm beyond recognition/Gone to some small space in silent stillness/Yet something beats anew," Lou Robinson tells us in her sweet, sometimes velvety vocals. With all those songs about rebirth, skies turning from grey to blue and demons (personal demons?), it straddles between being melancholy and joyful.

Despite the electronica/trip-hop nature of Lamb, the edges of "Between Darkness and Wonder" are classical. "Hearts and Flowers" and "Learn" have violins, "Wonder" has rippling harp, and "Angelica" has piano. It gives a more timeless quality to the smooth, panoramic electronic music. Speaking of which: Andy Barlow does a fantastic job molding the beats, blips and sweeps of sound into some of the best trip-hop out there.

"Between Darkness and Wonder" is a beautiful album by a talented band. Deeply atmospheric and melodic, Lamb's newest release could be easily considered one of the best releases of 2004.

Thank goodness that for every 100 Brittany and Clay CD there is at least one great collection of music like Lamb's Between Darkness & Wonder. Their latest CD is a pleasure for the ears and the mind. Like Fear of Fours, this album has a really great instrumental track that makes this CD a "must buy" in my opinion.